Serving Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and North Port since 1978

Furnace Noises, And What They Mean

Furnace problems are quite common, especially during the winter when there’s more strain on the system. If you want to limit the damage to your furnace as much as possible, the best thing you can do is to watch for any early warning signs that may indicate an issue with the system. One of the best ways to do that is by listening for any strange noises that may be coming from the furnace. Read on for an outline of some of the more common noises that indicate a problem.

Grinding

The air handler is the part of the furnace responsible for moving air around the home while it’s operating. Without the air handler, the furnace would not be able to heat the home properly. In order to cope with the amount of friction generated while the system is on, the air handler is equipped with a series of oiled bearings. These bearings do wear down over time, however, causing friction on the system to increase and producing a grinding noise. If you hear this noise, call for repairs right away. The bearings will need to be replaced before the air handler motor overheats and burns out.

Booming

A booming sound on startup is often caused by a clogged burner assembly. The burner assembly is the part of the system that actually ignites the natural gas in order to produce heat. Carbon particles can build up on the assembly over time, causing it to become clogged to the point where it fires later than it should. When the assembly finally fires, it will burn through a lot of gas at once and make a loud boom. Having the assembly cleaned by a professional should solve the problem.